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CNN Live At Daybreak
First Shark Fatality Ever in Virginia
Aired September 03, 2001 - 08:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get back to that story we have been following -- that shark attack at Virginia Beach.
As the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day is usually a time to hit the beach. But how do you convince people to do that after a fatal shark attack?
And joining us this morning from Virginia Beach is Mayor Meyera Oberndorf.
And we welcome you, Mayor -- good morning.
MAYOR MEYERA OBERNDORF, VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA: Good morning.
CELLINI: Now, we understand that David Peltier and his father were swimming in an area that was unsupervised by a lifeguard. Was there any way to prevent them from venturing into this area prior to the attack?
OBERNDORF: First, let me begin by reassuring you and all of your listeners that this is the first recorded case of a shark ever attacking a swimmer in the history of the city of Virginia Beach. So although we have had sharks swimming offshore, this is the first time one has come in so close to shore and attacked a swimmer.
CELLINI: Well, Mayor, let me...
OBERNDORF: We...
CELLINI: ... let me re-ask the question though. They were unsupervised. Was there any way to prevent them from getting to that area prior to the attack?
OBERNDORF: No. Well, let me explain about the area. The area is right next to Little Island Park, which is a city park with lifeguards on deck. And as soon as there was trouble, the lifeguards left their stands and entered the water to assist the father in trying to save the little boy. And six minutes after that, the rescue squad arrived. They were not in an isolated or dangerous place. It's the normal swimming area in a residential neighborhood called Sandbridge.
CELLINI: Yes, and your team showed up quickly to their credit.
It was determined to keep the beaches open on Sunday. What went into that decision?
OBERNDORF: The beach was closed from Saturday night after the attack about 6:00 p.m. until the following morning, when we had police helicopters put in the air with marine biologists riding with them looking for signs of sharks or anything that would show that it was unsafe for the folks to sit on the beach or wade in the water. Nothing was found to show any sharks, but there were large schools of dolphins and the Menhaden fish.
CELLINI: Were there any signs...
OBERNDORF: And after...
CELLINI: ... excuse me.
OBERNDORF: Excuse me.
CELLINI: Were there any signs of shark activity -- were there any shark sightings prior to this attack Saturday?
OBERNDORF: No, but the father of the son told me -- Richard Peltier himself told me, that he has often surfed the shores along the beaches here in Virginia Beach. And he said the water was clear that night. And he looked down, and it was when he saw the shark. He had never seen one before that. It was about eight feet long and blue in color.
And so, we have had constant air surveillance of the waters. We have a marine patrol that goes up and down in boats looking for any potential. We also have an EMS dive team, who are riding ATVs and keeping a watch on the water too.
CELLINI: With all...
OBERNDORF: We are not...
CELLINI: ... excuse me.
OBERNDORF: Yes.
CELLINI: With all the special forces, is there specific shark attack training that they have been rebriefed or briefed on?
OBERNDORF: There is -- I am not sure whether that there is any training for that. I think the fact that we have a freak of nature that has occurred here, we will be, you know, always analyzing what exactly more can be done to protect our citizens and our visitors every year. But to answer your question: Is there a specific shark attack type of motive of running things? We just respond as we would to any emergency.
CELLINI: You know, with all of the warnings, Mayor, and with all of the problems that we have had in shark attacks, people still swim at their own risk. So you can tell people to stay out of the water or be careful. But ultimately it's their decision, is it not? OBERNDORF: Yes, that's very true. But we have lifeguards posted on most of our resort beaches. However, if it's a nor'easter or a hurricane coming or just bad surf or rip tides, we try to explain to our visitors how dangerous the ocean is, and that they shouldn't go in. But if they choose to, that's one of their privileges.
In addition, though, we keep lifeguards on their stands. And after they go off duty at 6:00, we have the dive team riding up and down the Boardwalk and on the beach trying to warn people if we think they are going to be in any danger.
What has been prescribed is that people can go in the water. We ask them to stay in the shallow end near the beach and where other large groups of people are, so that if anything occurs, everybody can come out, and they can ask for assistance from our lifeguards and our police.
CELLINI: Well, Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, thank you very much for spending time with us on this holiday, and we wish you the very best after that tragedy.
OBERNDORF: Vince, thank you very much. And may I say, thank you to all of you who have been so kind to pay attention to this and to let you know that we pray that the Peltier family will heal and be able to go on in their own lives.
CELLINI: As do we. Thank you very much, Mayor.
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